ANALYSIS OF HABITATS AND ANATOMY OF JUNCUS-SUBULATUS FORSSK, DELTAIC MEDITERRANEAN COAST, EGYPT

Juncus subulatus is a salt tolerant rush growing in the coastal and in land salt affected wetlands of Egypt. Its dense growth usually occurs in the wetlands associated with the northern deltaic lakes of Egypt. T he floristic composition and vegetative yield of Juncus subulatus comm unity were studied in eight sites of the deltaic Mediterranean coastal belt of Egypt. The associate species are mainly halophytes and heloph ytes. The means of moisture content, fresh weight and dry weight of Ju ncus subulatus culms were: 70%, 351 gm/m2 and 102 gm/m2 respectively. The anatomical studies show that these culms contain highly developed chlorenchyma tissues and the sclerenchyma are absent except in the vas cular bundles. Sclereides and calcium oxalate were not detected. This may explain that J. subulatus. unlike Juncus rigidus and Juncus acutus . is not a fibre producing rush but it may be proposed as a fodder hal ophyte for domestic animals.